How To Shave Your Chest Hair: The Ultimate Guide for Men
At Wilkinson Sword, we’re passionate advocates for the idea that there’s nothing wrong with body hair, in fact we encourage you to show your body hair some love! But plenty of us still seek silky smooth legs, backs and chests, and for the many men who want to achieve a smooth, hairless chest, we’ve got the lowdown on how best to achieve that freshly shaved feeling without irritation or injury.
How to shave your chest
You might think that shaving your chest ought to be a fairly simple process, but there are plenty of possible places to slip up, scratch or cut yourself.
1. Prepare and trim your chest hair
It’s always a good idea to shave your chest during or straight after a shower. Soaking your skin with hot water opens your pores and softens the hairs, making it easier for your razor to cut through them. If you’ve got a lot of hair on your chest, you may want to give it a trim before you start shaving to avoid clogging your blade.
2. Select your razor
For the closest possible shave, a manual razor specially designed for body hair is the best tool for the job. Shaving with an ordinary razor, rather than an electric shaver, is an advantage because they can be used in the shower, and they tend to provide a much closer and longer lasting shave. Check that your razor is clean and doesn’t show any signs of being clogged up or rusty.
3. Lather up with shaving cream
In order to lubricate your razor and allow it to glide smoothly over your chest without causing irritation, you’ll need to use plenty of shaving cream, soap or gel. If you have particularly dry or sensitive skin, you may want to look for a product which is formulated to be moisturising or soothing. Whip up a thick lather by rubbing the cream or gel between your palms, and apply it all over your chest.
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4. Shave your chest
When you shave, you should shave with the grain rather than against it, which will reduce the chance of the hair follicles being disrupted in a way that can lead to ingrown hairs. You’ll want to keep your skin pulled as taught as possible, so that you can shave without your razor catching on your skin and causing nicks or cuts. Be particularly careful around the base of your neck, around your nipples and your collarbones, since these areas are more delicate and tricky and therefore more prone to getting cut.
5. Rinse and moisturise
It’s important to thoroughly rinse all of the shaved hair and shaving cream or gel away. This helps to prevent it getting caught in your pores, where it can cause irritating pimples and bumps. If you’re prone to acne or pimples on your chest, a useful prevention method can be to exfoliate the area you’ve just shaved, either with a chemical exfoliator or toner containing ingredients such as witch hazel or salicylic acid, or a physical exfoliator like a body scrub.
When you get out of the shower, it’s essential to moisturise properly, especially if you tend to get dry skin. Using moisturising creams or lotions which contain aloe vera can be a brilliant option, as its soothing properties help to counter the effects of razor burn. So, feel free to pamper yourself with a luxurious body lotion, and enjoy the feeling of a smooth, freshly shaved chest.
Once you're an expert at shaving your chest, why not read our guides on the best wet shave razors or the best shaving razors for sensitive skin?
